Scribd
Upload
23 views15 pages

Prepare A Report On Transmission Media (Guided Media)

The report discusses transmission media, specifically guided media, which include twisted-pair cables, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables. Each type of guided media has its advantages and disadvantages, with fiber optics offering the highest speeds and longest distances, while twisted pairs are cost-effective for networking. The choice of transmission medium depends on factors like cost, bandwidth, distance, and security requirements.

Uploaded by

nandiniladda30
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
23 views15 pages

Prepare A Report On Transmission Media (Guided Media)

The report discusses transmission media, specifically guided media, which include twisted-pair cables, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables. Each type of guided media has its advantages and disadvantages, with fiber optics offering the highest speeds and longest distances, while twisted pairs are cost-effective for networking. The choice of transmission medium depends on factors like cost, bandwidth, distance, and security requirements.

Uploaded by

nandiniladda30
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Prepare a

report on
transmission
media (guided
media)

Introduction
TRANSMISSION MEDIA
A transmission medium can be broadly defined as anything
that can carry information from a source to a destination.

For example, the transmission medium for two people having


a dinner conversation is the air. The air can also be used to
convey the message in a smoke signal or semaphore.

For a written message, the transmission medium might be a


mail carrier, a truck, or an airplane. In data communications
the definition of the information and the transmission medium
is more specific.

The transmission medium is usually free space, metallic


cable, or fiber-optic cable. The information is usually a signal
that is the result of a conversion of data from another form.

Guided Media
Guided media, which are those that provide a conduit from
one device to another, include twisted-pair cable, coaxial
cable, and fiber-optic cable. A signal traveling along any of
these media is directed and contained by the physical limits of
the medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic
(copper) conductors that accept and transport signals in the
form of electric current. Optical fiber is a cable that accepts
and transports signals in the form of light.

2
Twisted-Pair Cable
A twisted pair consists of two conductors (normally copper),
each with its own plastic Insulation, twisted together.

One of the wires is used to carry signals to the receiver, and


the other is used only as a ground reference. The receiver
uses the difference between the two. In addition to the signal
sent by the sender on one of the wires, interference (noise)
and crosstalk may affect both wires and create unwanted
signals. If the two wires are parallel, the effect of these
unwanted signals is not the same in both wires because they
are at different locations relative to the noise or crosstalk
sources (e,g., one is closer and the other is Farther).

This results in a difference at the receiver. By twisting the


pairs, a balance is guided media, also known as wired
transmission media, are physical communication channels
that use cables to transmit data signals. These media provide
a fixed path for signal transmission and are generally more
secure and reliable than wireless transmission. Guided media
are widely used in computer networks, telecommunication
systems, and data centers due to their efficiency in high-
speed data transmission.

3
Types of Guided Media

Guided media are classified into three main types:

Twisted Pair Cable


Twisted pair cables consist of two insulated copper wires
twisted around each other to minimize electromagnetic
interference (EMI) and crosstalk.

The twisting helps reduce signal degradation over distance.

Types of Twisted Pair Cables:

1. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Most commonly used in Ethernet networks and telephone


systems.

No additional shielding, making it more susceptible to


interference.

4
Categories:

Cat 3: Used in early Ethernet networks (10 Mbps).

Cat 5/Cat 5e: Supports up to 1 Gbps.

Cat 6/Cat 6a: Supports up to 10 Gbps with reduced


interference.

Cat 7/Cat 8: High-speed networking with improved shielding


(40 Gbps).

2. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Has an extra metallic shielding layer to reduce interference.


Used in environments with high electrical noise. More
expensive and less flexible than UTP.

Advantages of Twisted Pair Cable:

✔ Inexpensive and easy to install

✔ Supports a range of data speeds (up to 40 Gbps with Cat 8)

5
✔ Lightweight and flexible

Disadvantages:

✖ Limited distance (maximum 100 meters for optimal


performance)

✖ Prone to interference if not properly shielded

Applications:

LANs (Local Area Networks)

Telephone lines

DSL connections

a. Coaxial Cable
b.

6
Coaxial cables have a central copper conductor surrounded by
an insulating layer, a metallic shield, and an outer protective
cover. This structure provides better protection against
electromagnetic interference than twisted pair cables.

Types of Coaxial Cables:

1. Thick Coaxial Cable (Thicknet, 10Base5)

Supports long-distance transmission (up to 500 meters).

Used in early Ethernet networks and backbone connections.

2. Thin Coaxial Cable (Thinnet, 10Base2)

Supports transmission up to 185 meters.

7
More flexible than Thicknet but has lower bandwidth.

3. RG-6 and RG-59

Commonly used for cable TV and broadband internet.

RG-6 has lower signal loss and supports longer distances than
RG-59.

Advantages of Coaxial Cable:

✔ Higher bandwidth than twisted pair cables (supports up to 1


Gbps)

✔ Less susceptible to interference due to better shielding

8
✔ Can transmit signals over longer distances compared to
twisted pair

Disadvantages:

✖ Bulkier and more expensive than twisted pair cables

✖ Difficult to install and maintain

Applications:

Cable TV networks

Broadband internet connections

Older Ethernet networks (10Base2 and 10Base5)

9
c. Fiber Optic Cable
d.

Fiber optic cables use light pulses to transmit data through


thin strands of glass or plastic fibers. They offer the highest
data transfer speeds and longest transmission distances
among all guided media.

Types of Fiber Optic Cables:

1. Single-Mode Fiber (SMF):

Uses a single light beam for long-distance communication (up


to 100 km).

Supports speeds up to 100 Gbps and beyond.

Used in backbone networks, long-distance telecom, and


internet services.

10
2.Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF):

Uses multiple light beams for data transmission.

Supports shorter distances (up to 2 km) and lower speeds


than SMF.

Used in data centers, LANs, and high-speed interconnects.

Advantages of Fiber Optic Cable:

✔ Extremely high bandwidth (supports multiple terabits per


second)

✔ Immune to electromagnetic interference

✔ Can transmit data over very long distances without signal


degradation

✔ More secure (difficult to tap into compared to electrical


cables)

11
Disadvantages:

✖ Expensive installation and maintenance

✖ Fragile and requires specialized handling

✖ Requires specialized equipment for signal conversion


(optical to electrical)

Applications:

High-speed internet and broadband services

Long-distance telecommunication networks

Medical imaging and industrial applications

Military and aerospace communications

3. Advantages of Guided Media

12
✔ Higher security compared to wireless transmission

✔ Less affected by environmental conditions (e.g., weather,


interference)

✔ Reliable and consistent performance

✔ Scalable for high-speed communication needs

Disadvantages of Guided Media

13
✖ Limited mobility (fixed connections)

✖ Installation costs (especially for fiber optics)

✖ Physical damage risks (cables can be cut or damaged)

4. Conclusion

Guided transmission media remain the backbone of modern


networking and communication infrastructure. Twisted pair
cables are widely used for cost-effective networking, coaxial
cables provide better shielding for medium-range
applications, and fiber optics deliver the highest speeds and
longest distances for critical communications. The choice of
media depends on factors such as cost, bandwidth
requirements, distance, and security needs

14
15

You might also like